The Spiritual Discipline of Study: He Opens the Scriptures

by Roderick Barnes Uncategorized

The Scriptures Themselves Are About Christ

The Scriptures are not a collection of moral sayings, spiritual reflections, or religious history; they are His story. They are a unified testimony about a particular Person. David prophetically records the words of Christ:

“Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of Me.” (Psalm 40:7)

David tells his reader through prophecy that the books of the Bible are actually about the coming Messiah (2 Peter 1:20-21). The writer of Hebrews confirms that this was fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 10:7).

Christ is not merely in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are about Christ. He is the reality to which every type and figure gestures.

He is the substance to which every shadow points. He is the fulfillment of every foretelling about the promised Savior. This truth is not theoretical. It was demonstrated in His earthly ministry. Here are three ways we see that Christ reinforced and pointed to Himself as the subject of the Scriptures:

Astonishing Authority in Teaching (Matthew 7:28-29)

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28–29, NKJV)

The scribes quoted authorities. Christ was the authority; this is what came through when he was teaching. He did not merely interpret Scripture; He spoke as its Author. He is still doing this for those willing to acknowledge Him in the endeavor of studying.

Accessing the Meaning Requires Accepting the Messiah (John 5:39-40)

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40, NKJV)

This is one of the most sobering statements in Scripture. It is possible to study the Scriptures diligently and yet miss their meaning entirely if one refuses Christ.

Study without Christ produces pride. Study with Christ produces praise and proper alignment with the grace and gifts of God (John 3:16).

The failure was not intellectual but relational. They would not humble themselves and come to Him and therefor could not understand His book. He was able to teach but they were not teachable. The question is, am I?

Application in the Emmaus Encounter (Luke 24:27)

After His resurrection, Christ encountered two disciples walking to Emmaus. They knew the Scriptures but could not make sense of what had recently happened. High hopes were dashed when they saw their Rabbi arrested, beaten, ridiculed, and then crucified. Although Jesus had told them many times that he was going to be arrested, mistreated, and crucified, they still did not understand what had happened. But Jesus, steps in to help His disciples when they could not help themselves. Luke records:

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27, NKJV)

Christ did not introduce a new message. He revealed the true meaning that had always been there. Later they reflected:

“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32, NKJV)

This is the difference between reading the Scriptures and relying on my own abilities to get the message and reading the Scriptures but having Christ open them for me. The former may inform the mind but the heart is still unable to see the relevance of what is revealed. The latter informs the mind and opens the eyes of the heart to give true understanding.

Conclusion

The discipline of study is not primarily about getting information. It is about transformation (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:1-2) as we are taught by Christ Himself through His Word. True study requires:

  • Humility, because the truth is revealed, not invented.

  • Submission, because the goal is obedience, not merely knowledge acquisition.

  • Christ-centeredness, because He is the interpretive key to everything.

Without Christ, study produces pride. With Christ, spiritual discipline of study is a work that is blessed by God and that produces worship. Study becomes an act of seeing reality as it truly is: a universe created through Him, sustained by Him, revealed by Him, and returning to Him.

Getting the A’s In Study

I have for years mentored people into getting A’s when they study a book… any book.

Element What It Means Key Scriptures Practical Questions to Ask
Acknowledge Christ Recognize that Jesus Christ is the center, subject, and interpretive key of all Scripture. The Bible is not primarily about man, morality, or religion, but about the person and work of Christ. Luke 24:27; John 5:39–40; Hebrews 10:7; Colossians 1:16–17 How does this passage reveal Christ’s person, authority, work, or kingdom? What does this teach me about His nature or mission? How does this connect to redemption?
Author Understand as much as you can about who wrote the book or passage? 2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:12–13 Who is the human writer? What was his role (prophet, king, apostle)? What was happening in his life? What theological concerns shaped his writing?
Audience Identify the original recipients of the passage. Scripture was written to real people in real historical situations with specific covenantal relationships to God. Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Revelation 1:4 Who first received this message? Were they Israel under the Law, exiles, disciples, churches, or individuals? What were their struggles, assumptions, and needs?
Atmosphere Understand the historical, cultural, emotional, and covenantal environment surrounding the passage. This includes circumstances, tensions, dangers, and spiritual conditions. Psalm 51 (after David’s sin); Habakkuk 1:1–4; Acts 8:1; Philippians 1:12–14 What was happening historically? Was this written during peace, exile, persecution, or crisis? What emotions or spiritual conditions were present?
Architecture Examine the structure, flow, and design of the passage. Scripture is deliberately constructed, with arguments, progression, parallels, and emphasis. Romans 8 (logical progression); Matthew 5–7 (Sermon on the Mount); Hebrews (argument for Christ’s superiority) What comes before and after this passage? How does the argument develop? Are there repeated words, contrasts, or conclusions?
Aim Discern the intended purpose of the passage. Scripture was written to produce specific outcomes: faith, repentance, obedience, encouragement, warning, or worship. John 20:31; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 1:22 What response does this passage call for? Does it instruct, correct, warn, comfort, or reveal Christ? What must change in belief, attitude, or action?

In His grip by His grace,
Roderick L. Barnes, Sr.